Chapter 6

The day of their secret wedding dawned quietly. There were no grand carriages or lavish flowers—just a small ceremony in the private chapel of Damien’s estate, hidden deep in the hills outside the city.

Nia stood at the edge of the stone steps, her hands trembling around a simple bouquet of white lilies. She wore a plain, elegant white dress that Damien had chosen for her. It wasn’t ostentatious, but it fit her perfectly, hugging her slender waist and falling gracefully to the floor. She took a steadying breath, the soft scent of lilies calming her fluttering heart.

Damien approached her, his presence as commanding as ever in a dark, perfectly tailored suit. His hair was swept back, revealing the strong lines of his face—so devastatingly handsome that her breath caught for a moment. When he reached her, he took her hands gently in his.

“You look beautiful,” he said, his voice a low murmur that sent warmth flooding through her.

She managed a small smile, her eyes searching his. “Are you sure about this, Damien? It’s all happening so fast.”

He squeezed her fingers, his gray eyes steady and sure. “I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life, Nia. You’re mine now. And I’ll protect you… always.”

The ceremony was intimate, attended only by Damien’s family—a few trusted relatives who had known of the family tradition for generations. They watched with quiet approval as Damien and Nia exchanged vows in soft voices, the chapel bathed in gentle afternoon light.

As they stood before the small altar, the officiant spoke the final words, sealing their bond. Damien slipped a simple platinum band onto Nia’s finger, his hands warm and steady.

“With this ring, you are mine,” he said softly, his voice so low it was meant only for her. “No one will ever take you from me again.”

Nia’s heart thudded in her chest, and for a moment, she let herself believe in the promise in his eyes. She slid the matching band onto his finger, her voice trembling but sure.

“With this ring… I am yours,” she whispered.

When they were pronounced husband and wife, Damien leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, his lips lingering just a moment longer than she expected. “It’s done,” he murmured. “You’re my wife now, Nia. My world.”

She closed her eyes, feeling a bittersweet calm settle in her chest. It wasn’t a wedding filled with laughter or old friends. But it was a beginning—quiet and resolute.

---

After the ceremony, Damien’s family gathered around them, offering small smiles and quiet congratulations. His aunt, a graceful woman with silver hair and kind eyes, pulled Nia into a gentle hug.

“Welcome to the family, Nia,” she said warmly. “I know it must be overwhelming, but you have us now. And you have Damien.”

Nia managed a shy smile. “Thank you. It means… it means a lot.”

Damien’s cousin, a young man with a mischievous glint in his eyes, grinned and added, “You’re already part of us. Damien doesn’t bring just anyone into his life, you know.”

Damien, standing beside her, gave a faint smile and rested a hand at the small of her back. “She’s not just anyone,” he said firmly. “She’s my wife.”

Nia’s cheeks flushed at his words, and she glanced up at him. In his eyes, she saw something she couldn’t quite name—a flicker of pride, perhaps, or maybe something gentler.

---

The days that followed were filled with quiet adjustments. Damien brought her to live in his grand estate, a place of understated luxury that seemed to hum with old secrets and quiet power. He gave her a suite of rooms overlooking the gardens, filled with soft light and the scent of roses.

At first, Nia moved through those halls like a ghost, unsure of her place. But Damien’s family was kind. They didn’t ask questions she couldn’t answer, didn’t push her to reveal more than she was ready to share.

One morning, as she stood in the sunlit kitchen helping Damien’s aunt prepare breakfast, the older woman smiled at her with gentle warmth.

“You have such a calm way about you, dear,” she said. “I see why Damien chose you. You bring him a softness he’s always needed.”

Nia blinked, surprised. “I… I don’t know if I’m soft,” she said quietly.

The woman patted her hand. “You are, in ways you don’t even realize. And you’re strong, too. That’s a rare combination.”

---

At night, Nia and Damien shared a suite—though he was always careful, never pushing her further than she was ready. Some nights he would stand by the window, the moonlight carving his face into perfect, devastating lines, and watch her with an intensity that made her shiver.

One evening, as they sat together in the quiet of their bedroom, Damien poured them each a glass of wine. He handed one to her, his fingers brushing hers.

“To new beginnings,” he said, his voice low.

She hesitated, then clinked her glass against his. “To new beginnings.”

He studied her over the rim of his glass, his gray eyes flickering with something that made her pulse jump. “You’re adjusting well,” he said. “My family has already grown fond of you.”

“It’s because they’re kind,” she said softly. “And… maybe because they see how much you care.”

He set his glass down and reached for her hand, his thumb brushing her knuckles. “I do care, Nia,” he said. “More than you know.”

Her breath caught at the honesty in his voice. “I don’t understand you sometimes, Damien. You’re so… intense. So certain.”

He leaned closer, his eyes locked on hers. “I’ve always been that way. When I want something, I take it. When I care… I protect. You’re my wife now. And I will never let anyone hurt you again.”

She felt her heart twist in her chest, a strange warmth blooming there. “I’m still healing,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.

He nodded, his hand tightening around hers. “Then I’ll wait. As long as it takes.”

---

As the days passed, she found herself slowly settling into this strange, gilded world. She walked in the gardens in the mornings, feeling the peace of the roses and the quiet luxury of her new home. At night, she shared quiet meals with Damien, their conversations growing easier, filled with gentle teasing and quiet laughter.

It wasn’t love yet—she didn’t dare to hope for that. But it was a beginning. A new chapter. And in Damien’s steady gaze and his family’s quiet acceptance, she began to find pieces of herself again.

One night, as she lay in bed beside him, Damien reached for her hand beneath the covers, his touch warm and reassuring.

“Sleep well, wife,” he murmured, his breath brushing her temple. “You’re safe now.”

She closed her eyes, letting herself believe his promise—just for a moment.

In the darkness of that quiet room, Nia realized that for the first time in a long time, her heart was at peace.